This more advanced course has been designed specifically to be a progression from 'Chamonix Off-Piste and Touring Skills'. It is aimed at those who have consolidated their touring and off-piste skills and have a good level of fitness. The course aims to further improve both your technical off-piste skiing, technical ski touring skills and mountain safety awareness whilst visiting some inspiring venues in the process. The course has been thoughtfully designed by both Alison Thacker (BASI ISTD Ski Instructor) and Rob Jarvis (IFMGA International Mountain Guide). The courses are either run by Alison and Rob, or our small team of excellent instructors and guides, who we are extremely proud to have working with us.
The course aims develop competence and confidence skiing in adventurous mountain terrain. You will come away from this course feeling that you have increased confidence in both your ski technique and your mountain skills, on steeper ground and in more remote areas.
Full information
You need to be competent, and reliable, skiing off-piste in all conditions on slopes up to 35 degrees. You should have done at least 10 days ski touring and be competent doing kick-turns. You will have practiced regularly with your avalanche transceiver and be a competent member of a ski touring team.
You’ll be able to cope with full days out on the mountain and have the fitness to go uphill at a pace of approximately 300 metres per hour for 3 - 4 hours, and still be able to make a safe and reasonably stylish descent. We strongly recommend that you have a warm-up day doing some downhill skiing at altitude before the start of the course. This is a demanding course and you need to be physically and mentally prepared for it. Unless you are a strong ski tourer already, this course is most suited to people who are skiing regularly during the season.
Basic mountaineering experience with some previous use of crampons & ice axe is useful but not essential.
These are group courses and you will need to embrace the important team aspect of off piste skiing and touring. If you are keen to maximise your time in terms of individual ski coaching, or completing longer / more physical tours then private hire is recommended.
Although you will already be a good off-piste skier, the instructor will work with you to gain more confidence on steeper ground and give you techniques and tactics for when conditions are tough. With low ratios, this tuition will be tailored to your individual needs. Time can be spent working on those individual habits that you have always been trying to break out of. Over the 2 days you will feel your skiing becoming more efficient in challenging situations.
Our instructors have experience of delivering these skills to skiers from beginner to mountain guide and other ski instructors. They will analyse your own skiing style and coach the improvements accordingly.
Touring classic steeper ski mountaineering terrain, under the supervision of an IFMGA Guide, will help you develop further your technical ski mountaineering skills including efficient transitions, glacier skiing, the use of ski & boot crampons, ice axe and perhaps the rope.
Throughout the course, attention will be given to the prevailing snow and weather conditions, and avalanche forecasts. This will help develop your ability for information gathering, planning suitable routes and making good decisions about which terrain to ski; with the two fundamental aims of being safe and having fun.
As well as these training & technical elements, at least one of the touring days will be a long & physical ski tour to give the satisfaction of completing a grand high level mountain ski journey.
Download a kit list here
- 2 full days of off-piste ski instruction, with a BASI ISTD ski instructor.
- 2 full days mountain skills training for off-piste skiing, and ski touring, with a IFMGA Mountain Guide.
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe if required.
- Accommodation. We recommend that you stay at Ski Breezy
- Lift passes
- Travel
- Food
- Insurance (All clients must have their own insurance for skiing off-piste and ski touring)
- Kit
Maximum of 4 people
This is a sample itinerary, which may vary considerably. The exact itinerary will depend on the prevailing weather and snow conditions, and the group experience and aspirations. All times are approximate.
Before the Course
Arrive in Chamonix; enjoy at least 1 day’s pre-course warm up skiing & check all off piste & touring gear is working well.
Pre-Course Gathering 1730 till 1815
We aim to have an informal pre-course meeting on the Sunday evening in Chamonix. This is optional. It’s a good opportunity to meet the team and chat through objectives for the week.
Day 1 0830 till 1630 – IFMGA Mountain Guide
Ski touring day: with the aim of completing a mid-length, middle altitude tour in interesting and varied terrain. This will involve practicing touring skills on ascents, route planning and finding, efficient transitions & ski skills in descent, all as part of a journey. Possible venues: Les Contamines Valley, Ski Touring Italian Val Ferret, Ski Touring in the Chamonix Aiguilles Rouges
Day 2 0900 till 1600 – Ski instructor
Introduction to steeper off-piste skiing with ski instructor looking at the fundamental skills needed for being effective on steep and / or more technical terrain. Feedback will be specific to the individual so that you have personal top tips to take forward into the week.Possible venues : Le Tour, Brévent / Flégère, Les Grands Montets
Day 3 0800 till 1700 – IFMGA Mountain Guide
Ski Mountaineering Day: with the aim of completing a high alpine journey in steeper and / or glacial terrain necessitating the use of ski mountaineering skills and equipment like crampons, ice-axe and rope. Judgments of prevailing conditions and subsequent route / terrain choice will be discussed and the aim will be to plan and complete an excellent high alpine ski journey in good style. Possible venues: Col de Passon from Argentière Glacier, variations on the Vallée Blanche / Glacier de Toule from Midi / Helbronner
Day 4 0900 till 1600 – Ski instructor
During this day you will apply the skills learnt on day 3 to whatever the off-piste conditions are. Whether it is powder, icy or bumpy (or a mixture of all of the above!) you will have plenty of time to put the skills into practice. Possible venues: Le Tour, Brévent / Flégère, Les Grands Montets
The mountain days with IFMGA Mountain Guide can start earlier and go on longer than the times stated above, particularly if travelling outside of the Chamonix Valley. Please communicate any time constraints that you may have in advance of the course.
The ski instructor days and mountain guide days may be switched around.
We can run a private version of this course, which can include the same programme as our group courses, or can be tailored to your teams preferences. For example, previously we have included a night in a mountain hut for private groups, like the Monastery at Grand St Bernard. Please email to discuss your requirements.
‘Chamonix Off-Piste Ski & Mountain Skills' is a joint venture between ‘High Mountain Guides’ and ‘Off-Piste Performance’ aimed at giving you expert advice and coaching in all aspects of mountain skiing.
Alison Thacker runs ‘Off-Piste Performance' and holds the BASI International Ski Teacher Award. She has delivered Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to the British Mountain Guides and works as a trainer on the BASI Mountain Safety Courses training aspiring instructors. When not teaching skiing she'll be off ski touring somewhere. Her most recent trip took her to the Lyngen Alps in Norway.
Rob Jarvis runs ‘High Mountain Guides’ and is a full time Mountain Guide based in the French Alps near Chamonix. He has led mountaineering and ski expeditions around the world including skiing to the South Pole and, a bit steeper (!), Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
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